Brick by Brick: The Business of Rebuilding Liberia
Firestone High School Graduates First Senior Class
Firestone Senior High School's colors of green and yellow were proudly on display as seniors donned caps and gowns for the school's first-ever graduation ceremony on Oct. 4.
A landmark occasion for the school and the company, the ceremony recognized 146 students who received diplomas in a gymnasium packed with relatives, company representatives, government officials and other guests.
Della I. Reeves, one of seven commissioners of the Liberian National Elections Commission, commended the school and the graduates in her commencement address. Controller Patrick Rodrigo encouraged students to continue seeking higher education in his speech on behalf of the company; the school's valedictorian, Philip Kieh, thanked teachers and parents for their support.
Three weeks before the ceremony, we were honored to purchase a 2-page ad in all of the major newspapers in Liberia to congratulate the graduates and recognize their parents on this hard-earned achievement.
We are very proud that the Firestone Liberia school system students' impressive 88.95 percent passing grade on the West African Examination Council standardized exams has been recognized as among the best in the country. And, yet, we remain committed to raise the mark further as part of our longstanding goal to provide quality K-12 education at no cost to children of our employees.
Posted by: Patrick Rodrigo
November 2, 2009
